Health Care Directives

What is a health care directive?

A health care directive (also known as an “advance directive” or “living will”) is a legal written document that tells others about how you want to be taken care of when you can’t communicate with them, as in situations where you may be critically ill or injured. It allows you to name another person, called an “agent,” to decide for you if you are unable to decide. You and/or your agent must be at least 18 years old to make a health care directive.

Why have a health care directive?

Making decisions for someone else can be very hard when you don’t know exactly what they would want. The health care directive helps your family, your agent, or your doctor make decisions about your care based on your preferences. You fill it out when you are healthy and thinking clearly. The directive will help guide others toward the kind of care you want in the event you are unable to make those decisions for yourself.

SeniorCare Complete and AbilityCare are health plans that contract with both Medicare and the Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees. Enrollment in either plan depends on contract renewal.